Heat-shrinkable capsule

ABSTRACT

A capsule or seal device is disclosed which is made from heatshrinkable plastic material. The seal device is not provided initially with a tab before it is applied to a bottle. Before the application of the seal device to the bottle, the cylindrical body of the device possesses two perforated lines which extend from end edge to end edge of the body and is provided at one end edge of the cylindrical body with two notches in the form of arcshaped body portions which continue to the respective perforated or score lines. When the seal or capsule is applied to the bottle and heated to shrink closely to adhere and clinch to the bottle, the tab part located between the two body portions automatically rises up and projects from or is offset with respect to the bottle surface, resulting in forming a tab or lug projection adapted to be grasped by the fingers of a hand when the seal is to be removed from the bottle.

United States Patent 1 Fujio HEAT-SHRINKABLE CAPSULE [76] Inventor:Masaaki Fujio, 315-8 Aoyamadai,

Suita, Japan 221 Filed: Oct.30, 1970 21 Appl.No.:85,319

[52] U.S. C1 215/38 A, 215/46 A, 229/D1G. 12 [51] Int. Cl 865d 41/02[58] Field of Search 215/38 A, 39 R, 38 B,

215/46 A; 229/DIG. 12, 51 TS [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS2,954,139 9/1960 Owens 215/38 A 2,261,875 11/1941 Dunn 215/38 A3,065,896 1l/l962 Grapp 229/51 TS 2,105,367 1/1938 Parsons.... 229/51 TS2,331,794 10/1943 Mallory 215/38 A 3,273,302 9/1966 Walter 229/51 TS3,511,402 5/1970 Cheeley.... 215/95 3,623,624 11/1971 Fujio 215/38 A2,864,547 12/1958 Guyer 229/51 TS 2,864,548 12/1958 Zastrow 229/51 TS[451 July 17,1973

Primary Examiner-Herbert F. Ross Assistant Examiner-Stephen MarcusAttorney-J. B. Felshin and Marvin Feldman [57] ABSTRACT A capsule orseal device is disclosed which is made from heat-shrinkable plasticmaterial. The seal device is not provided initially with a tab before itis applied to a bottle. Before the application of the seal device to thebottle, the cylindrical body of the device possesses two perforatedlines which extend from end edge to end edge of the body and is providedat one end edge of the cylindrical body with two notches in the form ofarc-shaped body portions which continue to the respective perforated orscore lines. When the seal or capsule is applied to the bottle andheated to shrink closely to adhere and clinch to the bottle, the tabpartlocated between the two body portions automatically rises up andprojects from or is offset with respect to the bottle surseal is to beremoved from the bottle.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures Patented July 17, 1973 2 G F. T R A R mm m mm m m m w w 7. W p m U H FIG.4

INVENTOR. NHS/IKI FUJZO HEAT-SHRINKABLE CAPSULE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONHeat-shrinkable plastic film is advantageously used for manufacturingseals or capsules in the form of cylinders. A conventional capsule ofthis type has two perforated lines terminaling to form a projection atan end edge of the cylindrical body. This projection facilitates openingof the seal by means of the of a hand when the sea] is desired to betorn open along the perforated lines.

The present invention has as one of its objects to provide meansresulting in an improved heat-shrinkable seal body or capsule whichcarries initially no tab or projection at either end of its cylindricalbody when it has been manufactured but it automatically engenders a lugor projection-shaped tab when it has been applied to the bottle forsealing purposes.

The invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 ofthe accompanying drawings, in which the state of the art is illustratedby FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional mode of manufacturing capsules of thetype employed for sealing containers, such as closure caps of bottles,such seal or capsule being made from a tubular film of syntheticresinous material which shrinks when heated to a predeterminedtemperature. The tubular material lies flat and is then cut into pieces11 provided with a perforated line 13 parallel and adjacent to one ofthe lateral end edges 12 of the flattened tubular film material. Eachpiece 1 l is severed from the tubular film material by cutting thelatter along the line 17 at right angles to the length of the tubularmaterial. The cut line 17 extends from the opposite lateral edge 16 ofthe flattened tubular material and, at the point where the cutting lineintersects with the perforated line 13, an arcuate line 14 is locatedwhich extends to the first-mentioned lateral edge 12 at a point where ithas entered the area of the adjacent piece beyond the straight cut line17. The known seal device 11 consists of the cylindrical body with a lugportion defined by the arcuate cut line 14. However, a recess will beobviously formed at the other end of the cylindrical body correspondingto the form of the lug projection. Such recess sometimes.

spoils the appearance of the seal product. Such recess may be eliminatedby clipping off the wall of the cylindrical body at the side where therecess has been formed, but it will cause the product to become shortand will result in a loss of the material.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a seal pursuant to the invention.

FIG. 3 shows in a vertical cross section the seal of FIG. 2 as appliedto the mouth or cap closure of a bottle.

FIG. 4 is a view similarto FIG. 3 but shows the of application of theseal according to the invention in a different position.

DETAILED SPECIFICATION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIG. 2, theseal or capsule embodying the invention has a cylindrical body 1 madefrom heatshrinkable plastic film material. There are formed two notches2 at one end edge 1 of the cylindrical body, which notches are spacedapart from each other and present each a small arc-shaped formation 2.One end of each notch continues to extend into respective parallel,spaced apart perforated lines or incised grooves 3 which terminate atthe opposite or upper end edge of the cylindrical body.

When the seal device 1 according to the invention is applied to thebottle 4 by pulling the cylindrical hollow seal body thereover andheating of the plastic material is carried out to a predeterminedtemperature, the material of the seal shrinks to clinch closely to theexposed surface of the bottle top. But the portion 5 which is defined bythe two notches 2, does not adhere to the bottle surface, for the saidportion 5 is stressed outwardly and upwardly. Thus, tear tab portion 5will form a projection, as shown in FIG. 3. This projection endfacilitates to be automatically placed in a position, in which graspingthe same by means of the fingers of a hand can take place, when the sealdevice is desired to be torn off and removed from the bottle. Accordingto the invention, therefore, it is unnecessary to provide any initialprojection on the seal product when it is manufactured and many otheradvantages result therefrom.

FIG. 4 shows a modification of the invention. The seal of FIG. 4 wasapplied to the bottle with the notched end edge 1' of the cylindricalbody located at the top of the bottle. By the application of heat to theseal in this case, the top or upper end edge 1' of the cylindrical body1 of the seal-will be stressed to bend inwardly so as to contact thesurface of the crown or cap of the bottle, as shown in FIG. 4. But theportion 5' which is defined by two aforesaid notches 2, will remain inits upright position, resulting in a lug projection along the side ofthe crown or bottle cap.

It is preferred to form notches 2 which assume acute angles, as shown inFIG. 2, since a sharp cutting at an end of thecylindrical body willfurther the realization of the projection or offset portion 5 and itwill also make it easy to tear off the seal or capsule along theperforated lines.

It is also preferable to manufacture the seal device so that it isapplicable from either its upper or lower end edge to bottle cap. Themanner in which the outlines 2' of the notches 2 are located opposite toeach other elucidates from FIG. 2, in which they are rounded convexly.Such configuration has been formed to improve the heat-shrinkage at therounded edge portions of the notches for close contact with the bottleand to thus cause the tab portion 5' clearly to project from theremaining part of the seal body. The projection 5' of the strip part 5from the remaining part of the seal will obviously contribute to an easygrip by means of the fingers of an operator's hand for the tearing-offoperation.

The notches 2 may be provided on either end edge or on both end edges 1'of the cylindrical seal or capsule body.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided ac cording to theinvention a heat-shrinkable seal device of plastic material forming athin-walled cylindrical body 1 for application to a closure cap 6 of abottle 4 and the like; comprising opposite upper and lower end edges 1'defining said body, two substantially parallel and spaced apart weakenedscore lines 33 extending into said body material and located to runbetween said end edges 1 and arc-shaped opposite end pieces 2', 2' cutinto respective body portions 2 to extend from one of said end edges 1'and to terminate at respective ends of said weakened lines 3, 3 adjacentsaid one end edge 1', thereby to provide between said weakened lines 3,3

a uniform tear tab 5 devoid of any diminished dimension throughout itsextent between said opposite end edges 1', l.

The invention herein described has reference to a preferred modecontemplated for carrying out the invention; the scope of patentprotection to be granted is defined by the ensuing claims.

I claim:

1. The combination of a bottle having a neck, a closure for said neck, aseal device for said closure and neck, said device comprising athin-walled tubular body made of heat-shrinkable plastic material shrunkover said neck and closure, said body having opposite upper and lowerend edges and being provided with two spaced apart weakened score linesextending into said body material and extending between and to said endedges, to form a tear tab for said seal device between said weakenedlines, said body being formed with notches at adjacent ends of saidweakened lines located at one of said end edges, and forming a pull lugat one end of the tear tab, said lug projecting from said body andadapted to be grasped by the fingers of a hand to tear the tab when theseal device is to be removed from the neck and closure.

1. The combination of a bottle having a neck, a closure for said neck, aseal device for said closure and neck, said device comprising athin-walled tubular body made of heat-shrinkable plastic material shrunkover said neck and closure, said body having opposite upper and lowerend edges and being provided with two spaced apart weakened score linesextending into said body material and extending between and to said endedges, to form a tear tab for said seal device between said weakenedlines, said body being formed with notches at adjacent ends of saidweakened lines located at one of said end edges, and forming a pull lugat one end of the tear tab, said lug projecting from said body andadapted to be grasped by the fingers of a hand to tear the tab when theseal device is to be removed from the neck and closure.